Sustainability criteria for NWE biodiesel September 1

Platts has reviewed requests from participants in the European biodiesel market and will include Sustainability Criteria into its European biodiesel assessment processes.

From September 1, 2010, Platts assessments for biodiesel grades FAME minus 10, FAME 0, Soy Methyl Ester (SME) and Rapeseed Methyl Ester (RME) will reflect products that are lawfully sourced within the marketplace.

The European Union is contemplating regulations pertaining to sustainability of biofuels that may come into effect on December 5, 2010. Platts will take steps to integrate provisions of these regulations into its assessment process once they are issued.

In the meantime, Platts will only consider bids, offers and transactions where, upon buyer's request, the seller shall exercise reasonable efforts to provide documentation describing:

1) The biodiesel feedstock type and percentage of each feedstock in case of blendstocks;

2) The country of origin of the feedstock;

3) A declaration of land use on which feedstock was grown on or after January 1, 2008.

Platts will not consider biodiesels in its assessment process that are in violation of the ILO's Minimum Age Convention 1973, and the ILO's Abolition of Forced Labor Convention 1957.

Please direct any further feedback or queries to Ilana Djelal at ilana_djelal@platts.com or Isis Almeida at isis_almeida@platts.com, copy petchems@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.